CMS vs Framework

7/28/2019 CMS vs Framework

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Frameworkvs

Content

Management System

By Abdeali Chandanwala
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-systemhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/4511817/php-framework-vs-content-management-system


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Some theory first

When we use the terminology Framework we aremore often talking about Web applicationframework . A web application framework is simply

based on coding. If you are a programmer or a webdeveloper that loves coding you often choose aWeb application framework for your projects.

A CMS is a Content management framework andit is based on the modules rather than code.Anyone can handle a CMS as it doesnt require anycoding knowledge. Of course programmers canalso choose a CMS as they can do their job faster.


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To put it in simple words, a CMS provides you witha back-end (with a host of plugins andcomponents) like Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, etc

so that you can manage front-end where as aframeworks doesn't.

A framework such as CodeIgniter, Kohana,CakePHP, Symphony, etc provides you with ready-made classes and libraries BUT you have to usethem and build your site yourself.


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You can build a CMS with a framework, but youcannot build a framework with a CMS.

A CMS is just that - a Content ManagementSystem.

A framework is a collection of libraries to build anapplication.


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A framework doesn't "give" you anything, it's just askeleton.

A CMS will give you a Functional site, and it's just amatter of themeing and adding content

Frameworks create very good presentable web

applications,whereas CMS could be fast but can'tcreate as presentable quality as frameworks can.


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There are lot of fights

There are lot of misunderstandings about what aframework and what a CMS can do. Lot of fans that useCMS they are saying that We can do everything with aCMS and the fans of the frameworks are No we can do

everything with a framework and so on

As a fan of frameworks of course I will have the sameopinion but actually this is not true! The truth is that as weuse the same base(PHP,java,python,. NET e.t.c.), we all

can do everything (well almost everything, but still). Even the myth that CMS doesnt use a good structure

isnt truth. For example Drupal 8 is based on Symfonyframework, a very good object oriented web application

framework.


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So what do I choose?

Nowadays the CMS is more popular than the Web applicationFramework as it is really easy to use it. Even if you dont haveprogramming knowledge you can install and create a wholewebsite with just a CMS. So what to choose?

It is always about four basic things that you have to thinkbefore you choose a framework or a CMS in my personalexperience:1. How much time you want to spend?2. What do you want to do and how flexible has to be this

project in the future?3. How much money (if it matters) you will take after the end ofthe project.4. What the hosting environment will be

For the customer it doesnt really matter what tools you will

use. The thing that matters is to have their job done


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Conclusion

Evaluate each projects needs

Know your tools

Build your foundation & library of reusable codes

Plan properly, but change is inevitable


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And finally a conclusion

So as a conclusion I have to say that it alwaysdepends of what you want to do and how muchtime you have to deal with it. I believe that every

tool is build for a reason so as many tools you know(frameworks or CMS), so flexible you are as aprofessional developer. So it doesnt worth it to bea CMS or a Framework fan. Just choose the besttool for you situation and thats it.

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CMS vs Framework